Reflection: In the Church’s Mission, no one is left out

The numbers are striking: thousands upon thousands gathered in massive assemblies, with countless devotees in prayer throughout the night. A Church that fills its members with pride, a media-savvy Church with millions of viewers, microphones, spotlights, and people who are more than ready and capable of handling all of this, especially mastering the digital world. A generation of young religious men and women bearing witness to Christ’s love with their new charisms. In short, a Church focused on “saving souls,” as is commonly said nowadays. And this Church is not wrong. But this very same Church has another face that is just as true. Its mission is the same as the former’s: to save souls. But the souls this Church seeks to save are far from any visibility.

I live in a parish spread across the vast hinterlands of Piauí, a state in the Northeast of Brazil—an immense area with various communities. Here, I have discovered another side of our Church’s life. To begin with, I sometimes have to travel 120 kilometres on dirt roads to celebrate a Mass. Crowds? No. About 30 people at most. With some luck, there are a few communities with a chapel. Most have none, so we celebrate under the cashew trees and beneath the marvellous light of the moonlit Sertão skies. Altars, sacristies—none of these exist here. A table serves as the altar, and a chair as the credence. I think of my fellow priests who celebrate Masses for large crowds. I admire their courage; I would find it very difficult. But my consolation is knowing that the same Christ present on the altars of grand and luxurious churches worldwide is also present in our humble chapels of the hinterlands. Christ is with the crowds and these few souls who devoutly receive His Body and Blood on the beaten earth of our communities.

Moreover, pastors are needed to guide all the sheep, both the many and the few. Each one of them, in its entirety, awaits the presence of their shepherd. The anonymity of our small and poor communities calls for a look of fraternity and respect. Here, one sees the daily struggle to obtain what, for many, has long been secured: a simple little chapel where Mass and other sacraments can be celebrated. These people, with their immense capacity to share what they have, are slowly building the Church of Christ. Unnoticed and resilient, this Church also advances in its mission of evangelisation. If we lack crowds, we have faith. If we lack visibility, we have hope. If we are few, our mission is joined to the many. After all, where two or three are gathered in His name, He is present.

Alex Sudre, MSC